As I mentioned above, the article pitch was accepted and here is the feature article that I wrote: 

Background

Canadian-news-media has the responsibility of shaping the public-narrative and/or impacting legislation-making processes. Due to its coverage and penetration, the media influences the way political issues are performed and addressed. Unfortunately, it has been shown that Canadian media has not been very adequate in the representation of Indigenous issues. It is either not recognized or if it is, it is perceived in a negative way hence no room for the acceptance of indigenous people’s input. This lack of representation and negative portrayal has tremendous ramifications. This social and cultural relegation of Indigenous voices and their understanding of the environment that has evolved over centuries is a disservice of the media. Importantly, Indigenous peoples have been shown to have a rich connection with the land and the environment, which consists of sustainability and responsibility. The findings are useful in providing an understanding of how new environmental challenges need to be handled.

Furthermore, erasing Indigenous people from these media sources erases them from policymaking, working against any attempt to include and empower Indigenous communities. It relegates Indigenous peoples to the periphery, where they not only lack the ability to speak for themselves and contribute their wisdom to environmental conservation, but also to participate in the making of decisions concerning their homelands and resources. As the environmental problems evolve due to climate change, loss of bio-diversity and other ecological problems, it becomes tactical for environmental reporting to incorporate Indigenous People. It can offer more varied and unique perspectives, creative ideas, and a more global perspective on the environment that includes cultural and religious approaches along with the scientific ones. This way the media can contribute to an improved understanding of the environmental problems from the side of the population, and more all-encompassing and fairer environment legislation.

Keywords: Canadian News Media, Indigenous Voices, Policy Making, Policy Issues, Climate Change, Environmental Reporting, Media Coverage, Environmental Policy, Indigenous Journalists, Ethical Reporting, Media Representation, Indigenous Perspectives, Culturally Sensitive Reporting Practices, Racial Discrimination, Indigenous-led Initiatives.

Case Studies and Examples

To provide more tangible and concise understanding of how Indigenous statement is represented or omitted into environmental reporting, this article evaluates the real-life scenarios where Indigenous inputs were or were not considered. It is important to note that there are patterns, as well as major difficulties and lessons resulting from Indigenous representation in the media that can be observed through analyzing these cases. I have composed the following research-by-area based on the topic of interest: One case example is the piece by Belfer, Ford, & Maillet (2017) on Indigenous people and climate change. Therefore, this study seeks to undertake a systematic analysis of the manner in which Indigenous people are depicted in the newspapers with regard to climate change in Canada, USA, Australia, and New Zealand. The outcomes of the study are informative regarding the media work and representation of Indigenous people pertaining to environmental exclusion.

Key Findings

Visibility and Framing

The study revealed that there is underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in both, climate change reporting across all forms of media (Belfer, Ford & Maillet, 2017). However, when they are featured, on rare occasions, their depiction is often a mere reflection of specific stereotypical roles or subjects portrayed within the contexts of the climate change or global environment discourses and policies as victims or passive observers of climate change impacts but not as participants and actors implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions.

Regional Differences

Interestingly, there are significant variations in how Indigenous people and/or their culture was covered between the four countries. For instance, it was seen that the Indigenous voices are presented more often within the Canadian newspapers more than their American, Australian, or New Zealand counterparts. Yet, it can be safely assumed that the depth and quality of those representations were quite different.

Types of Sources

However, Indigenous voices were mostly silenced, and the few times they were included, they were presented through the accounts of non-Indigenous prominent such as scientific officers and other leaders of European origin. It created more room for distortion or generalization of Indigenous standpoints.

Thematic Focus

In those articles that did incorporate Indigenous voices, the primary subjects explored were the appropriate application of traditional ecological knowledge, the effects of global climate change with reference to Indigenous territories and the environment, and the history of Indigenous peoples’ fight against climate injustice.

Analysis of How Indigenous Voices Are Portrayed and Involved

The chronological review by Belfer et al. (2017) entails some changes and constants in how Indigenous Australians were presented in the media. This section explores these trends and with this analysis, assesses the representation of Indigenous views in environmental reporting and the consequences of such representations.

Positive Trends

Highlighting Indigenous Knowledge

One favorable trend highlighted in the study examines an increased use of Indigenous and traditional knowledge in climate change reporting. This acknowledgment presents numerous and valuable ideas deriving from these communities, particularly when it comes to answering questions about environmental shifts, as the role of Indigenous voices has been recently highlighted as crucial when it comes to recognizing climate concerns.

Examples of Integration

It has been found that some articles successfully assimilate Indigenous components into the body of literature on environmental science and policy. For instance, articles on traditional ecological knowledge in ecosystem and resource management demonstrate how the Indigenous Peoples support the matters of bio-diversity conservation and sustainable land utilization. These stories attest to the fact that Indigenous knowledge serves as a useful component to supplement scientific practices, in addressing environmental issues.

Visibility of Indigenous Leadership

It is still possible for the media to spread accurate information and show that Indigenous people are active participants in climate change mitigation efforts. Seeing Indigenous Leaders and Indigenous organizations as key characters in climate and ecological stories remind audiences of Indigenous peoples’ importance in determining environmental policy and advocating for climate action. This coverage can assist end undesirable stereotype by presenting Indigenous peoples as victims and show support for Indigenous peoples as solution-seekers for climate change.

Negative Trends

Romanticizing Indigenous Knowledge

Despite the positive mentions, Indigenous knowledge is often presented in a way that merely substantiates scientific findings rather than being valued independently. This is true because this inclination to positivize Indigenous knowledge augments a fictionalized stumble of Indigenous peoples; it does not mention their contributions as equally coherent partners in climate conversation (Belfer, Ford & Maillet, 2017). Such portrayals undermine Indigenous knowledge as a mere Magic-eye addendum to conventional science rather than recognizing that Indigenous knowledge is a separate stock system of making sense of the physical environment.

Inconsistent Media Coverage

It is important to note that there are many differences when it comes to media representation of Indigenous peoples in comparison to other countries, including in terms of the amount, nature, and tone of reporting focused on Indigenous affairs. Danward, for instance, indicated that compared to media from the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, Canadian media portrays Indigenous people more often but not necessarily in a comprehensive and positive manner. This disparity is consistent with overall trends of environmental reporting, where Indigenous voices are sometimes acknowledged but not centered or researched in the same manner as other concerns.

Perpetuation of Victim Narratives

It is quite evident that many articles provide a victim-centered approach while minimizing the contribution and proactive strategies being proffered by Indigenous people. This being said, it is, however, imperative to recognize the weaknesses and adversities of climate change to the Indigenous people, the importance of their voice, their narration of being victims does not negate the aspect of them as active actors or agents with inventive approaches to problems. It undermines Indigenous peoples’ resilience and creativity by reducing their history.

Lack of Focus on Colonial and Marginalizing Structures

One of the biggest issues that the media fails to address is the fact that Indigenous communities experience these vulnerabilities due to colonial and marginalizing systems. It means that the media has failed to present a holistic picture of climate change impacts to indigenous people including land dispossession, resource exploitation, and racial discrimination which persisted in the past and continue to the present. This exclusion continues to construct climate change outside the frame of Indigenous people’s fight for justice, autonomy, and self-determination.

Examples of Underreporting

Another worrying trend is the sidelining of Indigenous people experiences and achievements in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. Failing to mention the steps taken by Indigenous people reduces the chances of presenting a different, perhaps more positive and constructive perspective. However, news about reforestation, renewable energy, and community conservation remains unnoticed or receive limited coverage.

Implications of the Case Study

The exploration by Belfer et al (2017) further supports that there is a need to cover Indigenous issues in a more balanced and fair manner and get actual input from Indigenous peoples. In this article, the author analyzes the way Indigenous voices are represented within climate change news reporting to underscore that a simple practice of ‘Indigenizing’ is insufficient in creating equitable engagements with Indigenous people and communities.

Impact and Implications

The Role of the Media in the Lives of Indigenous People

Indigenous people’s voices in the media issue hold significant meanings for the empowering of the communities as well as policy lobbying (Belfer, Ford & Maillet, 2017). Positive portrayal would entail improved visibility of Indigenous-led environment conservation efforts. In turn, where Indigenous voices are represented well and with consideration and respect, Indigenous people feel empowered and recognized for their responsibility as caretakers of the land. This can also affect policy-making and promote the usage of sustainable Indigenous initiatives for environmental management.

Potential for Improved Representation and Collaboration

Some recommendations that have been made are that apart from improved Indigenous representation, self-organized Indigenous media organizations could do far more for indigenous peoples and their voices, with the support of Indigenous journalists and other Indigenous people. In this way, focusing on the collaboration and interaction with the communities, the media practitioners can eventually provide more comprehensive and accurate coverage of environmental issues that impact the Indigenous peoples. This is going to push for a more collaborative approach and foster tolerance plus provide a variety of diverse characters into the mainstream apps.

Recommendations and Solutions

Strategies for Enhancing Indigenous Representation in Environmental Reporting

Drawing from research and consultations with Indigenous people, this article presents several recommendations on how Indigenous people can be included in news organizations. These are recruitment of more Indigenous journalists, training the workers in matters of cultural diversity and the relations with the Indigenous people, and partnering with the Indigenous people. Having Indigenous journalists may help to diversify the portrayal of environmental concerns and personally experienced points of view in the media industry. Such training can raise awareness of indigenous peoples’ concerns with non-indigenous journalists and can minimize potential offensiveness. It is therefore important to build relationships with Indigenous people in order to bring effective and efficient solutions to environmental problems of reports.

Importance of Ethical and Culturally Sensitive Reporting Practices

Promoting ethics as well as cultural rationality is vital in coverage of Indigenous accounts to prevent predetermined feelings as well as prejudiced interpretations. The media working to be more inclusive, they should avoid stereotyping and giving mere tokenism to Indigenous knowledge systems instead should embrace the depth and vastness of Indigenous knowledge systems. Ethical reporting encompasses Indigenous Interviewing, recognizing their perspectives, and telling their stories truthfully. Promising and accurate reporting measures can promote positive relations between the media and Indigenous people which translates to a healthy Indigenous media representation.

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Media organizations, policy makers and the public needs to support efforts that facilitate Indigenous voices that will broaden the discourses on environmental Issues. As an end, when Canadian news media try concrete steps to include Indigenous people’s perspective in the environmental reporting process, it can empower the public with more informed perspectives toward addressing the current environmental issues.

Conclusion

This article aimed to raise awareness on the failure of mainstream environmental reporting to include Indigenous voices, exemplify some of the barriers that Indigenous communities have to endure, and discuss the possibility of transformation. Promoting Indigenous peoples’ voice and practices concerning the environment is important for journalism and other disciplines to be complete and accurate. Nonetheless, mainstream media stands a good chance of enhancing indigenous voices in its operations and news coverage if it can embrace partnership as well as professionalism in its journalism.

References

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Belfer, E., Ford, J. D., & Maillet, M. (2017). Representation of Indigenous peoples in climate change reporting. Climatic change, 145, 57-70.